The phrase "empty nest" refers to when parents' children have grown up and moved out of their home, leaving their parents with an empty house and no longer dependent on them. Full definition
Being aware of what's different and how those differences make you feel is an important step toward avoiding the negative aspects of empty nest syndrome. (thespruce.com)
A woman's choice to leave a long marriage is often the result of empty nest syndrome. (eharmony.co.uk)
In the past, research suggested that parents dealing with empty nest syndrome experienced a profound sense of loss that might make them vulnerable to depression, alcoholism, identity crisis and marital conflicts. (mayoclinic.org)